Automatic dry-pipe valve



S. E. CAMPBELL.

AUTOMATIC DRY PIPE VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED lULY 6.1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

INVENTOR c 01 ECAMP as.

A TTOR/VE Y S. E. CAMPBELL. AUTOMATIC DRY PIPE VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6. I918. I

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 22 H l'i llllll ll l/VI/E/VTOR SCOTT E. CAMPBELL Illllllww of A TTOR/VEY s. E. CAMPBELL.

AUTOMATIC DRY PI PE VALVE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1918.

1,359,327, Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

BY Ohmw -v (M,

A TTORNE Y UNITE?) STATES SCOTT E. CAMPBELL, OF LOS ANGEIEIES,CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC "DRY-PIPE VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

Application'filed July e, 1918. Serial No. 243,573.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Soo'rr E. CAMPBELL, acitizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county ofLos Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Automatic Dry-Pipe Valves, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates primarily to a valve for use in automatic fireextinguisher sprinkler systems and particularly for use in systemsinstalled in cold storage plants and the like and in very cold climateswhere water would be liable to freeze if left standing in the pipes ofthe system due to the low temperature, and the object thereof is toprovide means whereby the water may be stored or retained in a standpipeor other supply system and automatically admitted to the pipes of thesprinkler system when required for use.

A. further object is to provide a valve for the above purpose which willbe cheap and simple in construction and eiiicient in operation, andwhich can be quickly and easily reset after each operation.

While I have shown and will describe my preferred form of construction,it will be understood that I do not limit myself to the specificconstruction shown but that various changes and adaptations be madetherein without departing from the spirit of my invention. I

I accomplish the above objects by the device described herein andillustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my valve ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of my valve on an enlargedscale.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4: is a section on the line 4:4 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings my valve comprises a suitable casing 5, substantiallyrectangular in transverse cross section, closed at one side by a door 6hinged at 7 and held closed by screws 7 or other suitable means,suitable packing being provided between the door and easing.

In the top wall of easing a little to one side of the vertical centerthereof is provided a circular opening 8 surrounded by an annular flange9, and in the upper end of this opening is mounted a verticallyadjustable valve seat 10. Resting on valve seat 10 is a flap valve 11,hinged at one side of opening 8 by a hinge 12, which valve is providedwith a central opening 13 and a plurality of openings li surroundingsaid central opening 13. Slidably mounted in opening 13 to slideVertically is a stem 15 on the upper end of which is rigidly mounted avalve 16 adapted to close the openings 14: in valve 11 when positionedfor use. Mounted upon the lower end of stem 15 is a retaining collar 17adapted to hold stem 15 against withdrawal from opening 13. In thebottom wall of casing 5 a little to one side of its vertical center-andon the opposite side of said center from the center of the opening inthe top wall is a circular opening 18 surrounded by an annular rim 19extending upwardly a short distance into said casing, and in the upperend of said rim is mounted a valve seat 20, adjustable vertically. Aflap valve 21 normally rests upon seat to close the openingtherethrough, and is hinged by a hinge 22 to casing 5. Pivotally mountedat its ends in the side walls of casing 5 at each side of valve 21 is ayoke 23 which is of a size to straddle valve 21 and permit the same to vpass freely therethrough, and in the upper end of said yoke is pivotallymounted one end of a trigger 24. Pivotally mounted in bearings 25 and 26in the side walls of casing 5 near one side and on the horizontal centerthereof is a pintle bolt 27 on which is pivotally mounted a trip 28. Acounter weight 29 is connected to trip 28 by an arm 30.

The lower portion of the center of pintle bolt 27 and the bearing 31 oftrip 28 is out half through to form a slot 32 in which is mounted thefree end of trigger 24 when positioned for use. Extending upwardly andinwardly from trip 28 near bearing 31 is a bearing 33 in which ispivotally mount ed one end of a holding lever 34:, the upper end ofwhich is received in a recess 35 in the lower end of stem 15.

Pivotally secured at one end to the top of valve 21 is a threaded sleeve36 in which is mounted an adjusting stud 37, which stud is adapted atits upper end to bear against the underside of trigger 24L and holdsvalve 21 on its seat.

In the operation of my valve the parts will be in the position shown.Compressed air will be pumped into the pipes of the system, about sixinches of water being first admitted to the chamber above valve 11,water being a better seal than air. A pressure ofabout eight pounds willbe maintained upon the pipes of the system, the

'fiy up and release the upper end of stud 37 whereupon the water beingunder pressure will force said valve 21 open and the water will thenflow through valve 11 and into the pipes of the system.

When it is desired to reset the valve after use the operation will beobvious from the foregoing.

Having described my invent-ion what I claim is:

1. In an automatic dry pipe fire extinguishing system a valve thereforcomprising a casing provided with an opening at each end thereof, one ofsaid openings entering the distributing pipes. and the other openingentering the water supply pipes; a valve seat in each of saidopenings; avalve for each of said valve seats hinged at one side thereof to openupwardly;'an opening extending through said distributing valve centrallythereof; a valve for controlling said opening having a downwardlyextending stem; a counterbalance pivotally mounted in said casingintermediate said first mentioned valves and being detachahly connectedto the lower end of said valve stem; a yoke pivotally mounted in saidcasing to straddle said water supply valve; a trigger pivotally mountedat one end in the upper end of said yoke and having its free endnormally engaging the under side of said counterbalance pivot; and anadjusting screw pivotally mounted at its lower end in the upper face ofsaid water supply valve and having its free end normally engaging theunder side of said trigger intermediate its ends.

2. In an automatic dry pipe fire extinguishing system a valve thereforcomprising a casing having an opening at each end; a valve seat in eachof said openings; a valve for each of said seats, one of said valves being a supply valve and the other being a distributing valve, each ofsaid valves being hinged at one side to open upwardly; an openingextending through said distributing valve centrally thereof; a valvemounted cen rally of said distributing valve to control said lastopening and having a downwardly extending stem; a counterbalancepivotally mounted in said casing intermediate said valves; a connectionfrom one end of said counterbalance to the lower end of said valve stemadapted, when air pressure is supplied to the distributing pipes, tohold said counter balahce in its operative position; a downwardlyopening yoke pivotally mounted in said casing to straddle said watersupply valve; a trigger pivotally mounted at one end in the upper end ofsaid yoke and having its other end normally engaging the under side ofsaid counterbalance; and an adjustable stop pivotally mounted at one endcentrally of said water supply valve to extend upwardly and havingits'free end normally bearing against the lower face of said trigger toprevent displacement thereof.

3. In an automatic fire extinguisher system a valve therefor comprisinga casing having openings at opposite ends thereof; a valve seat in eachof said openings; a valve for each of said openings, one of said valvesbeing a water supply valve and the other valve being a distributingvalve; an opening in said distributing valve extending therethrough; acontrol valve mounted in said distributing valve cent-rally thereof tocontrol said last opening; and means mounted in said casing intermediatesaid supply and distributing valves and controlled by said control valvetojrelease said water supply valve whereby water will be permitted toenter said casing;

4. In an automatic fire extinguisher system a valve therefor comprisinga casing having an opening at opposite ends thereof, one of saidopenings being the inlet opening and the other being the outlet opening,said inlet opening connecting to a water supply and said outlet openingconnecting to the distributing pipes of said system; valves mounted insaid casing to normally close said openings there being one valve foreach opening; a control valve mounted in said outlet valve centrallythereof; and means mounted in said casing and controlled by said controlvalve adapted, when released, to permit said inlet valve to open andadmit water to said casing.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I I have hereunto subscribed myname this 15th day of June 1918.

SCOTT E. CAMPBELL.

